Dr. Pahwa was named the inaugural recipient of the Laverne and Joyce Rider Professorship in 2005. This professorship is named for the late Joyce Rider, a longtime Kansas City, Mo., resident, and for her mother, Laverne Stapp Rider, who battled Parkinson's disease for many years. Joyce Rider, who died in 2004, bequeathed financial support for the professorship to the University of Kansas Endowment Association. Dr. Pahwa's research interests are centered around the various aspects of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. He is currently involved in studies related to medical and surgical forms of therapies for Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. In addition to publishing more than 250 peer-reviewed articles, chapters and abstracts in leading neurology and movement disorder journals, he has conducted more than 150 clinical trials related to Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Dr. Pahwa is the co-editor of "Handbook of Parkinson's Disease," 3rd and 4th editions; "Therapy of Parkinson's Disease," 3rd edition; and "Handbook of Essential Tremor and other Tremor Disorders." He also is co-author of the book "Parkinson's Disease: Questions and Answers," 4th edition.